Emmy Hayes Condon
Your daily guide to feeling, looking, and living your best.
How To Keep Routines Easy This Summer
Can we talk about how good it feels to simplify your routine in the summer? Between the heat, the humidity, and honestly just wanting more time to enjoy your iced coffee on the porch, summer is the season to let your products work smarter, not harder. Enter: skincare-infused foundation, the ultimate multitasker. Brands are folding serums right into your base now, so you get real coverage and skin-loving benefits in one swipe — no separate steps required. It's part of what the industry's calling "category convergence," basically where skincare and makeup have merged into one, and it could not have come at a better time.
Here's how to keep things breezy this summer:
Skip the multi-step base. Reach for a foundation with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide built in — instant hydration and tone-evening, no extra serum required.
Look for lightweight formulas. Ingredients like fermented arnica calm redness without feeling heavy in the heat.
Go for barrier support on the go. Formulas with peptides or ceramides help skin stay resilient through sun, sweat, and everything summer throws at it.
Keep SPF in the mix. A tinted formula with built-in sun protection means one less product to pack for the beach bag.
The goal? Less time in front of the mirror, more time soaking up the sun.
How to Work Out Safely in a Heat Wave
Heat waves are everywhere this summer, and hard workouts don't mix well, and pushing through anyway isn't the flex it feels like. Here's how to stay active without landing in urgent care.
Time it right. Early morning or after sunset is your friend. Skip the 11am–6pm window when possible — that's when the sun is at its most damaging.
Hydrate before you're thirsty. By the time you feel parched, you're already behind. Aim for two to four glasses of cool fluid every hour during heavy exercise, and skip the alcohol and sugary drinks — they actually dehydrate you more.
Dress like you mean it. Loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing lets your body actually cool itself.
Ease in. If you're not used to exercising in the heat, start slow and build up gradually — your body needs time to acclimate.
Listen to your body, no ego required. If your heart's pounding and you're gasping for air, stop. Dizzy, nauseous, confused, or getting a headache? That's your cue to get somewhere cool immediately.
Bring a buddy. Seriously — having someone around to notice if you're struggling can make all the difference.
When in doubt, take it indoors (hi, AC) or move your sweat session to a cooler hour. Your workout will still count.
Ask Clara:
"How do I stay hydrated in hot weather?"
Stop Reacting to Your Day — Start Blocking It On Your Calendar
I used to think calendar blocking was for uptight corporate robots. Then I tried it during a genuinely chaotic month, and now I'm that person defending it to anyone who'll listen.
Here's the thing — when everything lives in your head as a vague "I should do that today," your brain burns energy just holding it all. But when it has a slot? A time, a spot, a little rectangle of its own? Suddenly it's not a decision anymore; it's just...the next thing. Even stuff like "eat lunch" or "reply to texts" gets a block, because apparently my brain needs permission to stop doom-scrolling and actually chew food.
The magic isn't really about productivity (and what, really, is productivity in active postpartum/newborn life); it's about the relief of not having to negotiate with yourself sixty times a day. Try it for a week. You'll feel unreasonably smug.
Other habit-stacking ideas to survive a structured workday:
Pair your coffee with your top 3 priorities — write them while it brews, not after
Stretch during every call where your camera's off.
Drink a full glass of water before checking Slack — hydration before chaos.
Do a 2-minute tidy right before lunch — clear desk, clear head for round two.
Queue tomorrow's outfit while you shut your laptop — one less morning decision.
Take a walk during your first phone call of the day — movement + task, zero extra time.
Journal one line of "what worked today" as your literal last calendar block.
Small stacks, big relief.
Ask Clara:
"How do I habit stack?"
Why PDRN is Everywhere And Our Top Picks For Glowing Skin
PDRN is kind of taking over the skincare aisles right now (in the best way), and having to do a few double-takes on the large letters - it’s a new powerhouse for anti-aging.
PDRN stands for polydeoxyribonucleotide (say that 10x fast), and it's basically a DNA-derived ingredient (often sourced from salmon, though vegan plant-based versions exist too) that works at a cellular level to help your skin repair and renew itself.
It stimulates collagen and elastin production, helping to visibly improve skin texture, tone, and firmness, while softening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It's also known for calming redness and strengthening your skin barrier, which is why it's earned a permanent spot in K-beauty routines. The short version: PDRN is a skin-repairing ingredient that helps improve texture, tone, and overall skin health. Bonus: dermatologists have noted it can act as a cell-rejuvenation aid, helping repair damaged skin for a more elastic, voluminous look, and it may have anti-inflammatory benefits that ease redness and irritation.
So, where do you start? Here are a few fan-favorite picks to try:
VT Cosmetics PDRN Capsule Cream 100 – A clinically developed, fragrance-free moisturizer with a high concentration of PDRN paired with skin-tightening adenosine.
ANUA PDRN Hyaluronic Acid 100 Moisturizing Cream – A budget-friendly, 100% vegan option for those who want the glow without the salmon.
Medicube PDRN Collagen Gel Mask – Great for pairing with exosome technology for that glass-skin wake-up glow.
Dr. Reju-All Advanced PDRN Rejuvenating Cream– Ideal if your skin leans sensitive and reactive.
Dr. Althea PDRN Reju 5000 Cream- A powerful addition to any anti-aging skincare routine.
*As always, chat with your derm if you're pregnant or nursing since data there is still limited.
The Joy of A Simple Salad
Can we talk about how summer just... solves dinner for us? No preheating the oven, no standing over a hot stove sweating into your food (we've all been there). Just a big bowl, whatever's crisp and colorful, a good dressing, and boom — you're eating in twenty minutes.
Here's my honest take: summer salads are basically permission to stop overthinking meals. Got half a box of pasta and a can of chickpeas? Salad. Garden tomatoes going soft and cucumbers multiplying like rabbits? Salad. Leftover rotisserie chicken and some greens wilting in the crisper? You guessed it. There's no wrong way to do it, and that's the whole point — it's forgiving, flexible, and endlessly customizable to whatever you're craving or whatever needs to be used up.
I especially love a good bean salad for this reason. It's got fiber, it's got staying power, and it tastes even better the next day, which means future-you already has lunch handled. Pasta salads are the same deal — make a big batch on Sunday and you're set through Wednesday. And greens straight from the garden? Nothing beats that first-bite freshness.
Summer salads take the pressure off. They meet you where you are, whether that's a five-ingredient toss-together or a farmers-market haul turned masterpiece. That's the joy of it. Simple, satisfying, and somehow always exactly what you wanted.
A few easy summer salads to try:
Quick and Easy Pasta Salad — a 20-minute, no-mayo classic
Easy Bean Pasta Salad (Taco Night Vibes) — black beans, corn, avocado, lime
Summertime Pasta Salad with Jalapeño Pesto — bold, veggie-packed, vegan-friendly
21 Make-Ahead Pasta Salads — a whole roundup for when you want options
Ask Clara:
"How do I add more fiber to my diet?"
Why Bananas Are Taking Over Beauty and Fragrance Right Now
The fruit that's suddenly everywhere in beauty: bananas.
Here's the tea: searches for banana perfume jumped 100% in June alone, and #bananaperfume already has millions of views on TikTok. Global interest has been climbing for months, with worldwide searches for "banana perfume" up 37% in a single month. It's a whole moment.
So why banana, why now? Perfumers are hunting for the next vanilla, since vanilla's reinvention was such a massive success, and banana pairs well with both fruity and edible notes. It also helps that banana is trending as a flavor in food and drinks too, similar to matcha's rise in coffee shops, and that familiarity naturally carries over into beauty.
Industry analysts agree: bananas are showing up not just in fragrance but also across color cosmetics, hair care, and skin care, as brands use foodie ingredients to evoke texture and flavor. And the note itself is getting a glow-up — new banana fragrances are ditching the candied, artificial vibe for something more starchy, vegetal, and grown -up.
Ask Clara:
"How do I add more potassium to my diet?"
The First New Sunscreen Ingredient the FDA Has Approved in 20 Years
For the first time in nearly 20 years, the FDA just approved a brand-new chemical UV filter for sunscreens sold here in the US, and dermatologists are genuinely losing it over it.
The ingredient is called bemotrizinol, and here's the magic: unlike our current go-to UVA blocker (avobenzone), which isn't photostable and can break down and cause skin irritation when exposed to sunlight, bemotrizinol protects against both UVA and UVB rays on its own and is photostable, breaking down more slowly for better protection. Translation: your SPF actually works harder for you, even if you're a little late to reapply.
It's not new to the world, either. Bemotrizinol has been widely used in European and Asian sunscreens for decades, so it comes with serious safety receipts. And the glow-up doesn't stop there: because it's transparent on skin and doesn't need to be mixed with as many other filters, it should lead to more aesthetically pleasing, less greasy formulas.
Keep an eye out this September, when products with bemotrizinol start hitting shelves. Your future skin says thank you.
What Are Exercise Snacks? The Science-Backed Fitness Hack for Busy People
The fitness trend that's basically permission to not do a 45-minute gym session: exercise snacks. These are just short, punchy bursts of movement (think: a minute of stair climbing, a set of squats while your coffee brews) sprinkled throughout your day instead of one big sweaty block.
A December 2025 systematic review examined 26 studies and found that these mini-movement moments actually work. They improved glucose control, blood pressure, strength, and cognitive function across adult populations and were well tolerated, consistently boosting mood and energy levels. Even better, researchers found exercise snacking is feasible and time-efficient for reducing sedentary behavior and improving overall health, with high adherence supporting its integration into everyday routines. Translation: it's realistic enough that you'll actually stick with it, unlike that ambitious 5 am workout plan we all abandon by Thursday.
So next time you're dreading "finding time to work out," remember you don't need an hour. You need a minute, maybe two, a few times a day. Snack-sized movement, big-time payoff.
Best Summer Beauty & Wellness Finds Under $10 Right Now
Okay, can we talk about how incredible the beauty aisle is right now? Because your glow-up is literally right there — and it costs less than your last coffee run. Here are the under-$10 heroes to keep your Summer on track.
First, skincare: the Good Molecules Firming Peptide Eye Cream (just $6 at Ulta!) is a legit steal — a peptide-powered formula targeting fine lines and dark circles without the department store price tag. Pair it with the ANUA Hyaluronic Acid 8 + Catechin Cooling Mask (~$5–$7 per mask) for a glass-skin moment at home. Reviewers rave that it instantly cools, leaves skin plump and bouncy, and calms redness almost completely. It's the self-care Sunday treat your skin deserves.
For body hydration, the Neutrogena HydroBoost Hydrating Body Cream is a hyaluronic acid dream that keeps skin soft and moisturized all day — often found on sale under $10. And for your lips? The ChapStick HydraBalm Lip Repair Balm delivers serious moisture with zero fuss.
On the makeup side, the e.l.f. Sheer For It Blush Lip & Cheek Tint is only $6 and is everything. It delivers buildable, long-lasting stain power on both lips and cheeks at a fraction of the cost of other products. Two products in one — yes please!
Finally, hair: the Conair Flap Claw Clips is the perfect poolside companion! Affordable, sturdy, and no pain, so hot right now.
Money Wellness Is Real Wellness
I just got done updating a spreadsheet dedicated to my monthly maintenance routines (spoiler alert: I’m not a natural blonde), and after a few heavy sighs, and weighing the financial decision of monthly mani/pedis or my new love for reformer pilates, I decided to take a deep breath and make a realistic budget.
Wellness isn’t just for our physical or mental well-being — the morning routines, the supplements, the Sunday resets. But there's one pillar most of us quietly avoid: our finances.
Financial stress is one of the leading contributors to poor sleep, anxiety, and burnout. Which means that getting your money sorted isn't just practical, it's good for your health.
That's where a dedicated wellness account comes in. Think of it less like banking admin and more like building a foundation for the kind of calm, intentional life you're already working toward.
Your wellness fund is actually growing. SoFi Checking and Savings members with direct deposit earn a high APY on savings — so the money you're setting aside for therapy, gym memberships, or that yoga retreat is quietly compounding while you wait. And don’t we love more with less?
Also, SoFi lets you set up savings vaults, or rather, dedicated buckets for specific goals. Create one for your wellness fund, one for a fitness goal, and one for a mental-health-day retreat. Seeing those numbers grow, separated and labeled, makes the abstract feel real, and the goal feel close.
Wellness isn't just what you put in your body or how you move it. It's the peace of knowing you're financially grounded. Now exhale, you’ve got it covered.
Disclosures:
Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 5/28/26. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet
SoFi does not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. SoFi does charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.